You're Killing Me

01. Hey Sister Lucy
02. No Baby No!
03. Everybody Get Together
04. Sure Had A Wonderful Time Last Night
05. Ain't She Mean
06. Why Did You Get So High, Shorty
07. Ooh, Look-a There Ain't She Pretty
08. Flip Our Wigs
09. You're Killin' Me
10. This Is It
11. Who Put The 'Ungh' In The Mambo
12. Bug Dance
13. I'd Do Nothin' But Grieve
14. Straighten Up Baby
15. Lover Come Back To Me
16. Sorrento

Album Notes:

The various manifestations of “The Treniers” centred on twins Claude and Cliff Trenier (born 1919 in Mobile, Alabama) who were part of a 12-strong family. Other family members who played a part in The Treniers at various stages were older brother Buddy and youngest brother Milt (who had a solo career, recording several hard rocking sides for Victor and Groove in 1953). Another brother Denny wrote some of The Trenier’s material and his son Skip became part of the Trenier’s act in the late 1950s.

Claude and Cliff performed as vocalists for The Jimmy Lunceford Orchestra in the mid 1940s, then with Big Jim Wynn in Los Angeles (Claude sang on Wynn’s “Ee Boba Liba”, the record which spawned numerous hit cover versions) before recruiting sax player Don Hill and pianist/arranger Gene Gilbeaux who became an integral part of the Treniers both on stage and in the recording studio. In 1947-48 The Treniers recorded some 15 sides for Mercury Records, which is where this Dr Horse compilation starts off.

In 1951 The Treniers moved to Okeh records where they remained until 1955. The music on offer here mixes Trenier Twins tracks from Mercury, Treniers tracks from Okeh, Milt Trenier tracks from Victor and Groove, and finally both sides of a single recorded by The Treniers for Vik in 1956. Over this 9 year period the music changes from swing and jump to early rock ‘n’ roll. The Milt Trenier sides from 1953 are fine examples of hard rocking R&B. None of the tracks here were hits. The Treniers were a dynamic club act but their energy and verve was never captured on vinyl. They were a huge influence on early rock ‘n’ roll bands such as Freddy Bell, Jimmy Cavallo, Charlie Gracie and especially Bill Haley, who wrote “Rock-a-Beatin’ Boogie” for them.